Page 190 of Embriagado

She scoffed. “Bullshit. Is it somehow related to Ariyan?”

“No…”

“Oh, fuck.” She gasped, a huge smile spreading on her lips. “You’re still hung up on him, after all this time? It’s been months since you last brought him up, so I sort of figured you moved on.”

Moved on? She had no fucking idea. Not that she was to blame. I hadn’t told a single soul about Ariyan and me, and I doubted he had either. Sure, that French weirdo had us all figured out, but who cared for what one psycho knew.

Holding the door for the garbage room open for Imani, she walked in first and tossed the boxes into the recycling bin, me right behind her.

“I’m asking ’cause my brother’s girlfriend was invited.” Although, from the looks of it, ex-girlfriend would be more accurate, with how Nacio had been locked up in his room these last few days.

“Seriously?” she asked, one sculpted brow raised.

“Yeah, why’re you surprised?”

Done in the trash room, we both got out and started making our way back to the bar.

“Is she rich or something?”

“Not at all.”

“Well.” She cleaned her palms over her apron. “From what I know, it’s extremely hard to get invited unless you’re loaded. But then again, pretty girls often get a free pass.”

Despite my overall contempt toward Tess, I couldn’t deny she was hot, hence my idiotic brother’s obsession with her and her boobs. And thinking about what Imani had just said, the girls at the party really were good-looking in an odd way. And not just them, but the men, too. I mean, sure, Miami was packed with attractive people, but so many in one place? It made me think back on Olivia. She was drop-dead gorgeous, and yet, she didn’t look rich. Not at all. Judging by her platform heels, which were so cheap they broke, I guess her looks got her the invitation.

Before I went to prison, I used to hang out in places that invited chicks like Tess and Olivia, who called themselves escorts, to spice things up. But the vibe in those places was trashy and so different from the Kallos. And while I knew rich people paid for sex just as anybody else, I couldn’t imagine Ariyan having a hand in something so vile, especially with what he thought about the whole sex-industry thing. Like, fuck, there was that one time in his office where he got pissed at me for using the word “whore” as a slur⁠—

“By the way, did I tell you this is my last week here?”

I paused on the spot and glared at her. “What?”

Today, she had her cornrows pulled into a high ponytail, which she started playing with while looking at the floor. “I know it’s sudden, but… I got accepted to acting school in NYC.”

Knowing she’d always dreamed of it, I couldn’t help but smile at the news.

“That’s amazing, Imani.”

She looked up to meet my eyes, a slight hesitation in hers. “Is it? I mean, it’s not like the world needs another actress⁠—”

I grabbed her shoulder before she could go on. “It’s incredible, and you’re going to be famous. Just remember me when you are, okay?”

Her full lips turned up into a beautiful smile that lit up her entire face. “You bet, babe.”

Returning her smile, I pulled her into a tight hug.

“But New-York? Fuck.” I squeezed her tighter. “I’m going to miss you.”

“You better call me, asshole. All the fucking time.”

I chuckled. “You bet. Who else will I complain to?”

When I let her go, she held my stare for a minute longer before pointing at my face. “You better not make a fool out of yourself while I’m gone either, especially not with Ariyan.”

“I can’t promise anything—ouch,” I chuckled when she hit my chest.

“For real, babe. I can’t have your heart broken while I’m away. You’re already pathetic enough as it is.”

I bumped my shoulder with hers. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”